Hydraulic propulsion device



Jan. 30, 1968,. E. CERLINI HYDRAULIC PROPULSION DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1966 Evin/5 (mu/w United States Patent 3,365,890 HYDRAULIC PROPULSION DEVICE Eugene Cerlini, 224 Blvd. National, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone, France Filed Feb. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 526,545 Claims priority, application France, Nov. 19, 1965,

4 Claims. (or. 60-221) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The purpose of the invention is to provide a propulsion device for boats, toys etc, eliminating the necessity for the use of propellors and rudders.

Its object is to apply the siphon principle, by which the fluid is expelled by the pressure of the compressed gas in immersed nozzles, the propulsion of the boat, nautical device or submersible vessel being thus eifected by hydraulic reaction.

It is characterized by the means employed, considered both in conjunction with and independently of one another, and more particularly by the adjustable connection of a reservoir for compressed gas with a container in which a fluid is provided, and by the action of conveying this fluid, under pressure, to a submerged nozzle capable of being guided, in order to enable the hull containing this assembly to be propelled by hydraulic reaction of the current of liquid in motion in the static mass by which the apparatus is supported and accommodated.

The reservoir from which the fluid emanates under r FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the functional device; r

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the device, mounted on a vessel;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the generator and receiver assembly, with equilibrated reservoirs;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate, on a difierent scale, the constructional details of the filling valves and of the air discharge valves for the reservoirs;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a nozzle.

The device consists of a container or reservoir 1 connected by its upper part to a compressed air generator or to a reservoir for gas under pressure 2, an air discharge valve with a float 3 being provided.

The lower part is provided with a water inlet 4, of which the purpose is to fill the reservovir by force of gravity, with a non-return valve 5 and a pipe 6 with a gate 7, conveying the fluid, under pressure, to the nozzle 8, the orifices 9 and the nozzle 8 are below the water line and in direct contact with the ambient fluid.

The application of this device to toy boats is efiFected by means of a floating hull 9, containing a compressed gas reservoir 10, connected by a pipe 11, with a gate 12,

to an immersed exchanger 13, which has two branches 14 and 15 and which, via distributing cocks 16 and 17, feeds the stabilizing reservoirs 18 and 19; each reservoir comprises air discharge valves 20 and 21, with valves 22 and floats 23 and a water inlet 24.

This inlet is formed by a submerged strainer 25 containing 11 ball 26 which comes to rest against the seating 24.

The front part of each reservoir is connected by pipes 27 and 28 to cocks 29 and 30 controlled by starting handles 31.

A flexible conduit 32 connects the said pipes to the nozzle mounted on a directional control device 33.

The nozzle is of the single type or comprises two ele ments 34 and 35.

The advantages and operation of this apparatus will thus be obvious.

The propulsion is effected by the jet emerging at a high speed from one or more immersed nozzles, the water under pressure being fed from the reservoir contained in the hull, or the nozzles can be positioned on the outside of this latter but immersed.

The reservoir 1 is thus filled with water, as shown in FIG. 1. Communication is established between the said reservoir and the gas under pressure 2, and it is propelled with considerable force by the nozzle 8.

The air discharge device 3 enables the filling to take place as the filling of the reservoir progresses, the submerged orifice 4 enables it to be filled, and the non-return valve 5 does not operate until the motive fluid is exhausted. The speed is regulated by the gate 7 under the pressure of the compressed gas admitted through the gates 15 and 16.

FIG. 2 and the remaining diagrams show how this device is fitted to toy vessels; for this purpose, the motion can be very finely regulated by the use of two automatically compensated reservoirs 18 and 19, which efiect a completely even distribution of the fluid to the nozzle 33.

The gas under pressure, which may consist of liquid Freon, expands in the coiled pipe 13 and undergoes the thermal eflect causing it to assume the maximum pressure for feeding the reservoirs iii and 19 to the desired volume, in accordance with the regulation of the delivery by the gates 16 and 17.

This gas exerts a considerable propulsive force on the water contained in the reservoirs L8 and 19, from which the air is discharged during the filling operation by the valves 20 and Z1 and which are fed, in accordance with the progress of the air discharge operation, by the strainers 25 situated underneath the Water line.

This water under pressure is projected by the submerged nozzle 33, which may be of the single type or comprise two elements 34 and 35.

The continuity of the filling and water draining cycles for the reservoirs, i.e., of the propulsion, results (FIG. 3) from the synchronized operation of the devices marked 16 and 17, combined with elements 29 and 30 and also 20 and 21; these operate automatically at the appropriate moment.

When the water in a reservoir, 18, for example, has been completely expelled by the compressed gas which has penertated it by 17, the pressure of this gas suddenly drops, since the resistance of the water has been eliminated. this pressure drop is synchronized with the closing of the gas admission 1'7 and with that of 29 (expulsion of the water).

The water once again penerates 18 through the valve 24, because the air contained in 18% is expelled (FIG. 5) through the passage 22 of 20, as and when the water rises in 18, since 20 has opened under the effect of its own weight.

At the same time, and as soon as the pressure drop in 18 has been initiated, 16 and 20 of the reservoir 19 open; 21 has already closed, obstructing Z2, owing to the fact that the float 23 (FIG. which is integral with it, has been thrust by the water entering into 19.

In its turn, this water is expelled from 19, and so forth.

The nozzle, which is adjustable by means of its directional control device 33', enables the rudder to be dispensed with and even makes it possible to reverse the direction of motion.

This assembly eliminates the need for any propellor, motor, battery or accumulator, as well as all the inconveniences resulting from the use of these devices and of their accessories. Furthermore, the general efiiciency is considerably increased by comparision with other means of propulsion.

The control devices, which are likewise adjustable, either mechanically or by remote control, enable the speeds to be varied in unlimited proportions, from very low powers up to the maximum powers.

The shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements may nevertheless vary, within the limits allowed by equivalent devices, as may also the materials used for their manufacture, without thereby departing from the general principle of the invention described in the foregoing.

The features of the invention are summarised below:

The propulsion device operated by hydraulic reaction and applicable to boats, toys, etc., has these features:

(1) A hull containing a reservoir of gas under pressure, acting in a hermetic container filled with fluid expelled through a submerged nozzle capable of being guided.

(2) A reservoir which fills by force of gravity with a submerged non-return valve, positioned either on the inside or on the outside.

(3) The provision of double return conduits connected to the reservoir for gas under pressure, in order to stabilize the hull and feed the nozzle.

(4) Reservoirs fitted with air discharge valves operating during the filling process and with gravity filling valves situated on their submerged lower portion.

(5) A flexible conduit by which the reservoirs for the emission of fluid under pressure are connected to the submerged and adjustable nozzle,

(6) Sets of gates regulating the delivery and speed of the fluid under pressure. I

(7) Propulsion is effected by the jet emerging at a high speed from one or more submerged nozzles fed with water under pressure by reservoirs filled with fluid and connected to the compressed gas generator.

I claim:

1. A propulsion device for water-borne vessels comprising a reservoir for liquid having a non-return liquid inlet valve at its lower part, and a float-controlled air outlet valve in its upper part, to permit simultaneous expulsion of gas from the reservoir as it is filled by submerging it in water, a source of gas under pressure communicating with said reservoir, and a discharge nozzle communicating through a control valve with said reservoir, said 11ozzle being dirigible.

2. A propulsion device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of gas under pressure comprises a reservoir, for compressed gas, having an outlet, a control valve on said outlet, and a heat exchanger communicating with said control valve.

3. A propulsion device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reservoir for liquid comprises two tanks connected in parallel and each having an independent inlet valve and an independent outlet valve.

4. A propulsion device, as claimed in claim 1, comprising a flexible conduit between the control valve and the dirigible nozzle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 398,456 2/1889 Secor -222 632,662 9/1899 Tatham 60221 2,402,826 6/1946 Lubbock 60-3948 2,425,121 8/ 1947 Peterson 60-263 X 2,463,820 3/1949 Stafford et al. 60-221 2,807,209 9/1957 Kennard 6039.48 X 3,003,455 10/1961 Alexander et al. 60232 X FOREIGN PATENTS 347,591 11/1904 France.

21,283 1897 Great Britain.

CARLTGN R. CROYLE, Primary Examiner. 

